Azaj, 17, Oakland CA
Azaj, 17, Oakland CA
For as long as I can remember I always knew I was a girl. I was just very feminine, not because I tried to be, but because it was just natural. I remember when I was in elementary school everything was separated by girl and boy, it was confusing for me because I was a boy physically, but was a girl with my heart, mind, and soul. It was not until I was in the 6th grade that I came across the term transgender and when I did so many questions I had started to be answered. I finally felt like I knew who I am. I knew I could trust it because made me feel complete, that confused feeling was no longer there, but it was still a secret.
It was not until I was in the 10th grade that I came out as transgender. It was really difficult because I was so used to hiding myself, but when my friends gave me the courage I needed I was unstoppable. I was finally being myself. I was wearing make-up and the clothes I wanted to wear. I was a happier person once I came out and started to regain that light I lost a kid.
I wanted to spread my pretty colors everywhere! I had to show everyone that I had found my place in this world and that is anywhere I choose to be.
It is really different living as myself. I never thought that this would be happening. Before I felt like I was always trying to squeeze into jeans that were 6 sizes too small, but now it feels like I am in jeans that were made just for me. I don’t feel uncomfortable. I am not always sad or overly upset. I am free. I now feel like I have a purpose. I no longer wake up hating myself or this world that does not understand me. I wake up with a smile, not because my life is so great, but because I love who I am. We will not hide anymore!
Being Transgender is hard because I never know how I will be treated or how it will affect what I want in life. Some people are really supportive, but others are really rude
I am a lover. I want to spread love everywhere I go. I want to see me and think of my struggles.
I want to be the reason people fight to be who they are. I love myself and I know who I am at the moment. I feel like I have a reason to live. I know I will do great things and I want to be the person that girls like me look up to. I no longer feel like I can’t do things, it’s more like how am I going to get it done.
I have a lot that I want to do. I want to make sure the world does not take as long as it did to be open to gay and bi people. I want to model, singer, dancer, actor, and interior designer. I hope that I am able to help girls like me so they don’t go through what I did. I want to be the strong and beautiful woman I picture when I look to the future.
I want to slay the gods 100 times over by doing things that Trans girls have never done. I want to be the face of equality.
It is not a choice to be transgender, although we do choose to transition. Being transgender does not mean you have to be super feminine or masculine. It means that you do not identify with the gender you were born. It is not gay. Sexuality and Gender are very different, you can be transgender and still be gay, bi, or straight. We are just people who understand both sides of life because we have lived on both sides of the spectrum.